Beijing 2017

Question 1

after,

I went to work after eating

After breakfast, I went to the mall.

Answer 1

以后 之后

yǐ hòu / zhī hòu,

我吃了饭以后/之后去工作

Wǒ chīle fàn yǐhòu/zhīhòu qù gōngzuò,

早饭后我去商城。

Zǎofàn hòu wǒ qù shāngchéng.

(后 can be the shortform after an event)

Question 2

then / after that / afterwards,

I went to eat, then I went to work.

Answer 2

然后

rán hòu,

我去吃饭，然后去工作

Wǒ qù chīfàn, ránhòu qù gōngzuò.

Question 3

I haven’t studied Chinese since university.

Answer 3

大学以后我没学中文

Dàxué yǐhòu wǒ méi xué zhōngwén

Question 4

from now on…,

from then on / since then…,

From then on, I was more careful.

Answer 4

从今以后

cóng jīn yǐhòu…，

从那以后

cóng nà yǐhòu…,

从那以后，我更加小心。

Cóng nà yǐhòu, wǒ gèngjiā xiǎoxīn.

(更加 means even/still more of sth)

Question 5

See you later!

Answer 5

回见 / 以后见。

huí jiàn / yǐhòu jiàn.

Question 6

eye

Answer 6

目
mù
/
眼睛
yǎnjing

Question 7

leisure / free time,

When do you have time / When are you free?

(quite colloquial)

Answer 7

空

kòng,

你什么时候有空

nǐ shén me shí hòu yǒu kòng?

Question 8

I am university student (short fixed expression)

Answer 8

我是大学生

wǒ shì dà xué shēng.

Question 9

Mrs. / Madam / married woman

Answer 9

太太

tài tai

Question 10

my wife /spouse

(more colloquial should only be used when talking about one’s own wife)

Answer 10

我老婆

wǒ lǎo pó

老婆=old woman

Question 11

lady,

(when talking about someone of high status e.g. first lady, duchess etc.)

the first lady

Answer 11

夫人

fū rén,

第一夫人

dì yī fū rén

Question 12

to test / try,

Let me try / I’ll try! , to have a try / give it a try,

to have a look, to give it a listen

Answer 12

试

shì,

我试试 试一试

wǒ shì shì, shì yī shì,

看一看 听一听

kàn yī kàn, tīng yī tīng

(我看看 and 我听听 same pattern for look and listen)

Question 13

It’s hot in Beijing

Answer 13

北京天气很热

běi jīng tiān qì hěn rè.

Question 14

The Great Wall

Answer 14

长城

cháng chéng

Lit. Long wall

Question 15

to be feeling better

Answer 15

好受了

hǎo shòu (le)

受= receive/accept

Question 16

male teen idol / star / lady’s man

(coll. / literally young fresh meat)

Answer 16

小鲜肉

xiǎo xiān ròu

Question 17

See you tomorrow!

Answer 17

明天见

míng tiān jiàn

Question 18

hello (when answering the phone)

Answer 18

喂

wéi

Question 19

intern,

to intern

Answer 19

实习生

shí xí sheng,

实习

shí xí

Question 20

Hi / Hey! , (phonetic translation)

also high (on drugs etc) or to be in an extremely good mood

Answer 20

嗨

hāi

Question 21

intoxicated / drunk,

He’s drunk,

Have you drunk too much?

Answer 21

醉

zuì,

他醉了

Tā zuìle

你太喝多了吗

nǐ hē (tài) duō le ma?

Question 22

a chuckle, but rude / provocative way to tell someone to scew themself

Answer 22

呵呵

hē hē

Question 23

awesome (a little vulgar)

Answer 23

牛/屄⧸逼/Ｂ

niú bī / níu bāi

Question 24

favourite (most liked)

Answer 24

最喜欢的

zuì xǐ huan de

Question 25

these, those

Answer 25

这些 zhè xiē, 那些 nà xiē

Question 26

can / know how to, (have the skill) I can speak Chinese

Answer 26

会 huì, 我会说中文 Wǒ huì shuō zhōngwén

Question 27

can / be able to， (ability / circumstance) I can't go to school today because I'm sick.

Answer 27

能 néng, 我今天不能去学校，因为我生病了 wǒ jīn tiān bù néng qù xué xiào ，yīn wei wǒ (shēng) bìng le

Question 28

can / may， (have permission) could you / can you give me one more?

Answer 28

可以 能 kěyǐ / néng, (in this context 能 is also used） 你能给我再一个吗？ Nǐ néng gěi wǒ zài yí gè ma? when confirming, only 可以 can stand alone. When negating, both are used.

Question 29

personal / individual, personal hotspot

Answer 29

个人 gè rén, 个人热点 gè rén rè diǎn

Question 30

spot / speck / smudge / mark / point

Answer 30

点 diǎn

Question 31

to take a picture

Answer 31

照相 zhào xiàng

Question 32

My whole family is in the US.

Answer 32

我全家在美国 wǒ quán jiā zài měi guó.

Question 33

Good morning! , Good afternoon! , Good evening! , Good night!

Answer 33

早上好 zǎo shang hǎo (only zǎo in Beijing slang), 午安 下午好 wǔ ān / xìa wǔ hǎo! , 晚上好 wǎn shàng hǎo, 晚安 wǎn ān

Question 34

It doesn't matter / it's not important / it's nothing / never mind

Answer 34

没事 méi shì (r) very colloquial Beijing way to say méi guān xi -r always spoken, but never written

Question 35

to walk, I want to go to Beijing, how do I walk / go there?

Answer 35

走 zǒu, 我要去北京怎么走 / 去 wǒ yào qù běi jīng, zěn me zǒu / qù ?

Question 36

How can one get to / what are the directions to the gymnasium/sports hall?

Answer 36

去体育馆怎么走 qù tǐ yù guǎn zěn me zǒu?

Question 37

flower(s), This flower is a male flower.

Answer 37

花 huā (r) (colloquial), 花朵 Huā duǒ (formal, and only means a single one), 这朵花是雄花 Zhè duǒ huā shì xiónghuā. 朵 = mw for flowers

Question 38

to run, jogging / running as sport

Answer 38

跑 pǎo, 跑步 pǎo bù

Question 39

He runs fast, He runs (pretty) well.

Answer 39

他跑地快 Tā pǎo de kuài, 他跑地不错 Tā pǎo de bú cuò. (地 used before an adj. makes it an adv.)

Question 40

ring road / closed circuit / loop (Rings in Beijing), I’m on the 2nd ring.

Answer 40

环路 huán lù, 我在二环路 wǒ zài èr huán lù

Question 41

North, South, East & West | (different order in Chinese)

Answer 41

东西南北 dōng xī nán běi

Question 42

garden / yard, park, zoo

Answer 42

园 yuán (-r) 公园 gōng yuán, 动物园 dòng wù yuán

Question 43

car / vehicle or most any other transportation device

Answer 43

车 chē

Question 44

purse / wallet

Answer 44

钱包 qián bāo

Question 45

sometimes

Answer 45

有时候 yǒu shí (hòu) Lit.: There are moments

Question 46

most, I'm the tallest. (most tall), I like her most.

Answer 46

最 zuì, 我最高 wǒ zuì gāo, 我最喜欢她 wǒ zuì xǐ huan tā

Question 47

boss / superior

Answer 47

上司 shàng si

Question 48

...me too.

Answer 48

我也... wǒ yě + verb

Question 49

I don't really want...

Answer 49

我不是很想 wǒ bú shì hěn xiǎng... When using the negation you don't use 很, however if you do chose to, you have to insert 是. 不 must be followed by a verb. alternative --\> 我不想 wǒ bù xiǎng (I don't want)

Question 50

dry (used for food, wine, weather, mouth etc.), to dry up, This river is dry (has died up)

Answer 50

干 gān, 干涸 gān hé, 这条河干涸了 zhè tiáo hé gān hé le.

Question 51

You are too / so nice / kind!

Answer 51

你真是太好了 nǐ zhēn shì tài hǎo le!

Question 52

subway / metro

Answer 52

地铁 dì tiě (= ground iron)

Question 53

my Beijing friends / friends of Beijing

Answer 53

我在北京的朋友 wǒ zài běi jīng de péng you

Question 54

to sleep

Answer 54

睡 shuì

Question 55

badminton

Answer 55

羽毛球 yǔ máo qiú Lit.: feather hair ball

Question 56

other / another / else, Do you want anything else? , Is there anything else?

Answer 56

别 的 bié (de), 你还要别的吗 Nǐ hái yào bié de ma? , 还有别的吗 Hái yǒu bié de ma?

Question 57

only, I only want this one. I'm the only one who knows their people.

Answer 57

只 / 唯一 zhǐ / wéi yī, 我只要这个 wǒ zhǐ yào zhè ge, 我是唯一一个认识他们的人。 wǒ shì wéi yī yī gè rèn shi tā men de rén

Question 58

Don't... , Don't do this!

Answer 58

别 bié, 别做这个 / 别干这个 bié zuò zhè ge / bié gàn zhè ge! 干 normally 1st tone (=dry). When used as „do“, it’s 4th tone.

Question 59

to put / to place, Don’t put anything spicy / any spice in!

Answer 59

放 fàng, 别放辣的 Bié fàng là de!

Question 60

table / desk, chair

Answer 60

桌子 zhuō zi, 椅子 yǐ zi

Question 61

to upload

Answer 61

上载 shàng zài

Question 62

Well done! | (something is / was done well etc)

Answer 62

做得很好 Zuò de hěn hǎo!

Question 63

perfect (absolutely perfect), makellos / flawless / faultless (older language not used too frequently)

Answer 63

完美 wán měi (lit. whole beauty), 无瑕 wú xiá

Question 64

paper | (paper sheet / piece of paper)

Answer 64

纸张 zhǐ (zhāng)

Question 65

Could you please warm this up a bit? , ...cool this a bit?

Answer 65

能热一点吗 Néng rè (yi) diàn(r) ma? , 能冷一点吗 Néng lěng (yi) diàn(r) ma?

Question 66

to hope

Answer 66

希望 xī wàng

Question 67

question also: problem, no problem(s), Are there any questions?

Answer 67

问题 wèn tí, 没有问题 méi yǒu wèn tí, 有问题吗 yǒu wèn tí ma?

Question 68

like this / this way / in this fashion, Why do you do this? / Why are you doing this (like that)? How are you so/this slow?

Answer 68

这么 / 这样 zhè me / zhèyàng (这个 is for objects, 这么 is “this” for actions), 你为什么这么干 / 作 nǐ wèi shén me zhè me gàn / zuò? 你怎么这么慢 Nǐ zěnme zhème màn!

Question 69

to repeat, Please repeat once again!

Answer 69

重复 chóng fù, 请重复一遍 qǐng chóng fù yī biàn!

Question 70

loud (for voices etc), to read aloud / out loud

Answer 70

大声 dà shēng, 大声读 dà shēng dú

Question 71

to translate, Who can translate this word?

Answer 71

翻译 fān yì 谁会翻译这个词 shéi huì fān yì zhè ge cí?

Question 72

a symbol / Chinese character, (entire) word, phrase / sentance

Answer 72

汉字 hàn zì, 词 cí, 句子 jù zi

Question 73

to copy (down) / transcribe, Please copy these phrases.

Answer 73

抄写 chāo xiě, 请抄写这些句子 qǐng chāo xiě zhè xiē jù zi.

Question 74

What does this mean?

Answer 74

这个什么意思 zhè ge shén me yì si?

Question 75

to discuss, Please discuss with your deskmate.

Answer 75

讨论 tǎo lùn, 请和你的同桌讨论 qǐng hé nǐ de tóng zhuō tǎo lùn.

Question 76

to raise your hand (in class)

Answer 76

举手 jǔ shǒu

Question 77

left, right, straight ahead (when walking etc.), Walk straight ahead.

Answer 77

左 右 zuǒ, yòu, 一直 yī zhí 一直走 zǒu yī zhí

Question 78

new, Where is your new home? , That's the newest.

Answer 78

新 xīn, 你的新家在哪里 nǐ de xīn jiā zài nǎ li?, 这个最新 zhè ge zuì xīn.

Question 79

behind, in front of

Answer 79

后边 hòu bian, 前边 qián bian

Question 80

on top of / above, under / below, The book is on the table.

Answer 80

上边 shàng bian, 下边 xià bian, 书在桌上边 shū zài zhuō shàng bian.

Question 81

outside of, inside of

Answer 81

外边 外面 wài bian / wàimiàn, 里边 里面 lǐ bian / lǐ miàn 面 is more common

Question 82

between, I sat between Tom and John.

Answer 82

中间 zhōng jiān, 我坐在汤姆和约翰中间。 Wǒ zuò zài tāngmǔ hé yuēhàn zhōngjiān.

Question 83

in the middle of, There is a truck in the middle of the road.

Answer 83

中间 zhōngjiān, 路中间有一辆卡车。 Lù zhōngjiān yǒuyī liàng kǎchē.

Question 84

electric / electricity, phone, computer, TV, movie

Answer 84

电 diàn, 电话 电脑 diàn huà, diàn nǎo, 电视 电影 diàn shì, diàn yǐng

Question 85

to push, to pull, Please push the door.

Answer 85

推 tuī, 拉 lā, 请推门 qǐng tuī mén.

Question 86

excuse me / may I trouble you / would you please

Answer 86

劳驾 láo jià

Question 87

It's too expensive. , Could you please make it (a bit) cheaper? / (Cheapen it a bit, okay?)

Answer 87

太贵了 tài guì le. , 便宜一点行吗 pián yi (yī) diǎn, xíng ma?

Question 88

long, short

Answer 88

长 短 cháng, duǎn

Question 89

...Okay?

Answer 89

行吗 xíng ma?

Question 90

Let's leave!

Answer 90

我们走吧 wǒ men zǒu bā.

Question 91

one more beer

Answer 91

来一个啤酒 lái yí gè pí jiǔ

Question 92

280, 208

Answer 92

两百八 liǎng bǎi bā, 两百零八 liǎng bǎi líng bā (very casual and only when talking about numbers per se, not about money)

Question 93

always, never

Answer 93

从来 cóng lái, 从来不 / 没 / 从未 cóng lái bù / méi / cóng wèi

Question 94

to give a discount, Do you give / have discounts? , 20% off (you pay 80%), 5% off ( you pay 95%)

Answer 94

打折 dǎ zhé (r), 你打折吗 nǐ dǎ zhé ma? , 八折 九五折 bā zhé, jiǔ wǔ zhé

Question 95

mountain

Answer 95

山 shān (casual, but most common ) / 峰 fēng, (also means peak or summit), 岭 lǐng (more often used for mountain range / Gebirge) There are more than 15 different words for mountain, they have developed through different literature eras.

Question 96

will (future construction), We will go to Shanghai.

Answer 96

想要 xiǎng / yào, 我们想要去上海 wǒ men xiǎng / yào qù shàng hǎi. (想 and 要 are largely interchangeable. Both can mean "to want." The small difference is that 要 (yào) is often used for something you want to or need to do, and plan to take action on. It can sound a bit more demanding (and less polite). 想 (xiǎng) on the other hand, often conveys an idea on one's mind, that one may or may not take action on. You can think of it as meaning "would like to.")

Question 97

cold, pleasantly cold / cool, cool / unboiled water, ice-cold

Answer 97

冷 lěng, (more general and for when something is really cold) 凉 liáng, 凉水 冰凉 liáng shuǐ, bīng liáng

Question 98

tiny / miniature / micro, message, WeChat

Answer 98

微 wēi, 信 xìn, 微信 wēi xìn

Question 99

to return / go back to, I went back home.

Answer 99

回 huí, 我回家了 wǒ huí jiā le.

Question 100

sport(s) in the sense of P.E.

Answer 100

体育 tǐ yù

Question 101

so-so / tolerable / not so bad | (as in: The movie was so-so.)

Answer 101

马马虎虎 mǎ ma hū hū

Question 102

to wash your hands, restroom / lavatory (literally hand-wash room)

Answer 102

洗手 xǐ shǒu, 洗手间 xǐ shǒu jiān --\> more polite than saying toilet (厕所 cè suǒ)

Question 103

the rain, to rain, It's still raining.

Answer 103

雨 yǔ, 下雨 xià yǔ, 还在下雨 hái zài xià yǔ

Question 104

safe / sucure also used as a noun: safety / security

Answer 104

安全 ān quán

Question 105

some / a few / a little

Answer 105

一些 yī xiē

Question 106

She is rude.

Answer 106

她真不客气 tā zhēn bú kè qi. 客气 by itself means polite, 不客气 (you're welcome) literally means not polite insinuating that the person giving thanks should not be so polite To say outright that someone is rude 真 must be inserted (meaning very / truely).

Question 107

Explain the difference between using 着 (zhe) after a verb vs. using 在 (zài) before a verb.

Answer 107

Both 着 and 在 in Chinese are used to express ongoing actions, similar to the present progressive tense in English (e.g. "is doing"). However, they are used in slightly different contexts. 在 (zài): Indicates an action is happening at the moment. It's often used with a time or place to set the scene. It's roughly equivalent to "is/are/am + verb-ing" in English. Example: 我在看书。 Wǒ zài kànshū. (I am reading a book.) 着 (zhe): Indicates a continuous state, or an action that has an **ongoing result or influence**, rather than an action that is actively happening right now. It's often used to describe an **action's effect, a status, or to express how things are done.** Example: 窗户开着。 Chuānghu kāizhe. (The window is open.) Example: 他站着吃饭。 Tā zhàn zhe chīfàn. (He eats while standing up.) Example: 星星闪着光。 Xīngxīng shǎn zhe guāng. (The stars are shining.) In summary, 在 indicates an ongoing action similar to the present continuous tense in English, while 着 often refers to an ongoing state or a result of an action. 着 is not equivalent to the "-ing" form in English, but is more about the ongoing state or a result after an action has happened.

Question 108

What are the different uses of 的 (de) at the end of a sentence?

Answer 108

In Mandarin Chinese, the particle 的 (de) is primarily used for possessive or descriptive purposes, but when it appears at the end of a sentence, it takes on a slightly different role. Here’s a breakdown of when and why it’s used this way: ### 1. **As a Modifier with an Omitted Noun** - Often, 的 is used at the end of a sentence to indicate a noun that has been omitted but is understood from context. In this sense, 的 functions similarly to "one" or "ones" in English. - **Example**: - 他的是新的 (Tā de shì xīn de) – "His is the new one." Here, 的 represents the omitted noun, such as "item" or "thing." ### 2. **Softening or Adding Emphasis to Statements** - Ending a sentence with 的 can add a soft, conversational tone or sometimes emphasis to a statement. This usage is common in casual spoken Mandarin. - **Example**: - 我觉得不错的 (Wǒ juéde búcuò de) – "I think it’s not bad." Here, 的 adds a casual, emphatic feel, making the sentence sound more natural. ### 3. **Expressing Certainty or Confirmation** - In some cases, adding 的 at the end of a sentence implies certainty or reinforces the truthfulness of what was said, like saying "it is so" or "for sure." - **Example**: - 是这样的 (Shì zhèyàng de) – "It’s like this (for sure)." The use of 的 adds a sense of confirmation. ### 4. **Making the Sentence More Polite or Friendly** - Adding 的 at the end can soften a statement, making it sound less abrupt or more polite. - **Example**: - 他很好的人的 (Tā hěn hǎo de rén de) – "He’s a really nice person." Here, 的 makes the statement sound warmer or more conversational. ### **When to Avoid 的 at the End of Sentences** - While 的 can add warmth or emphasis, avoid it in formal writing, as its usage is mostly limited to spoken or informal written Mandarin.